Raw Hide......................Thierry Mugler, National Gallery of Victoria, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne
Thursday, August 8, 2013
From surfers racing through the foam at Bondi Beach, to ladies on a lunch date in Paddington, visiting Sydney made me realise; this is a place for power-dressing. Surfers have their armour of waterproof wetsuits and in the dressier districts, sharp leather heels and Céline bags can be seen with hints of python skin. This visual relationship of power and protection came to mind when selecting pieces in the National Gallery of Victoria's vast collection to illustrate.
First up was the hero of power-dressing, French designer Thierry Mugler. With exaggerated shoulder pads, prickly collars and patin leather; all the clichés of the 1980's came to mind and to my drawing. In this purple Mugler jacket and skirt set, the hide of an animal is again used to shield the body and carry its owner.
To see more images from my drawing project with the National Gallery of Victoria please visit their blog.
LG